But Hockaday is backing himself to do a good job and said: “It isn’t a surprise because of my background.

“I’m a very experienced coach and obviously 20 years a player, and the fact that the president wants a very experienced British coach, then I seem to tick all the boxes.

“At the end of the day I’ve been given a great opportunity and I intend to take it in both hands.”

(Image: Julian Finney)

Asked what his role was he replied: “Everything that goes on the training pitch, everything that goes on on the football pitch, and that’s it, it’s a simple as that. That suits me, because I’m a coach, it’s my passion and my drive.

“Everything that goes on in training, all the tactics and the fitness, you’re managing players to a degree anyway, and then it’s managing the game on a Saturday. For me it makes sense.

“Everything I believe in and everything the president believes in, it’s about having people on and off the park who are hungry and have a great work ethic.

“It’s a massive club. Proud doesn’t even come close to how I feel, and I will give this club everything I have got.”

Leeds kick-off at Millwall on August 9 and will be hoping Hockaday’s track record with youngsters will transfer to his reign.

The former Swindon, Hull and Blackpool player did well as a youth coach at Watford, helping to develop Ashley Young and Hameur Bouazza as U18 chief, and also coached at Southampton.